At home

A basic jar of bubble mix will amuse toddlers for hours (or at least until it gets spilled) but, for older kids, you need something more impressive - and that means giant bubbles. Commercial bubble mix is usually too thin for record-breaking bubbles, so you'll want to make your own, using a recipe of roughly 600ml of water to four tablespoons of washing-up liquid to one tablespoon of glycerine (sold in chemists as a cough remedy). Gently mix the liquid, then pour it into a large, shallow-ish tray - a large baking tray is ideal.

For a wand, you can bend wire coat-hangers into circles, or thread drinking straws on string to form rectangles that you dip into the liquid and draw out through the air to form a bubble.

You can also make a circle with your thumb and index finger, then dip it in the liquid and blow gently. Or use both hands to make a larger circle.

To really go for it, fill a paddling pool with mix, get a child to stand in it, then use a hula hoop to draw out an enormous bubble, completely encasing the child. The world record for the number of children encased in one bubble is 50. It was set at the Science Museum in London in 2007. I think we'll need a bigger pool ... Helen Davies

Out and about

In these credit-crunch times, families in search of fun would do well to heed an old British Rail slogan: "Let the train take the strain." Travel by rail - not forgetting GroupSave tickets (two pay, four travel) or family railcards - and you become eligible for a host of offers on attractions around the country.

Search nationalrail.co.uk for deals by area. For instance, passengers to Edinburgh can buy inclusive tickets that save on entry to the Edinburgh Dungeon or Our Dynamic Earth. Many of the best offers are in and around London, where you can choose from more than 100 two-for-one deals, including tours of HMS Belfast, the National Theatre, London Zoo, Lord's and Chelsea FC, and museums. Abigail Flanagan

Learn this

In Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels - one of the most brilliant books about any art form, by any artist - Scott McCloud explains exactly how to write and draw comics. He suggests various technical exercises and tools, and markets where budding artists might sell their work. More importantly, he also advises on how to read and understand comics. The book is nothing less than a philosophy of comics.

According to McCloud, the comic artist faces five significant choices: moment (what to leave in and what to leave out); frame (angle and distance); image (how to render the characters); words; and flow (how to guide the reader from panel to panel). Simple. The choice is yours. Ian Sansom

Last minute

It's 150 years since Darwin penned On the Origin of Species from Down House in Kent, but his home still fizzes with inspiration. See what you and the kids can create in just one day (versus seven) at this weekend's "Voyage of Scientific Discovery" - just one of many events in celebration of the great man's bicentenary.

Book ahead

The electrifying, award-winning NoFit State Circus brings its latest concoction of mayhem and thrills, Tabu, to the Roundhouse in London from 28 March. It is also holding themed workshops and masterclasses - including circus skills, music, poetry and photography - for those aged 11-25, and if you're under 26 you can see the show for free.